St. Catherine Catholic Church
203 E. Brown St., Luverne
St. Catherine Ph. 283-8502; www.stscl.org
Monsignor Gerald Kosse, Pastor
Sundays 8:30 a.m. Mass. Public Mass will be celebrated at FULL capacity in the church. Masses: 9 a.m. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. Friday at the nursing homes – check the bulletin. All Sunday masses will be live streamed on at on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pg/stccluverne/videos/. Visit www.stscl.org for more information.
 
Luverne Christian Reformed Church
605 N. Estey St., Luverne
Office Ph. 283-8482; Prayer Line Ph. 449-5982
www.luvernecrc.com — office@luvernecrc.com
Roger Sparks, Pastor
Sundays 9:30 a.m. Worship service. 6:30 p.m. Evening worship service. We are streaming Sunday services live on Roger Sparks’ Facebook page at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Send him a friend request if you’re not connected. You may also visit our website for delayed broadcasts. Also our services are on local cable TV at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 6:30 p.m. on Thursdays. In all circumstances, may we joyfully declare: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:8.
 
First Baptist Church
1033 N. Jackson St., P.O. Box 975, Luverne
Ph. 283-4091; email: fbcluv@iw.net — www.fbcluverne.org
Walt Moser, Pastor
Sundays, 10:30 a.m. In-person worship service. Service is also on Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m.
 
Grace Lutheran Church
500 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4431; www.graceluverne.org — graceluverne@iw.net
Ann Zastrow, Pastor
Dave Christenson, Interim Pastor
Thursday, July 1: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Saturday, July 3: 5:30 p.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. Sunday, July 4: 9 a.m. Worship service with Holy Communion. 10 a.m. Fellowship coffee and treats. Monday, July 5: Office closed. Tuesday, July 6: 9 a.m. Staff meeting. Wednesday, July 7: 7 a.m. Men’s Bible study. 7:30 a.m. Mom’s Bible study at Wildflowers. Thursday, July 8: 8:30 a.m. Missions in Action. Online, TV and Radio Worship options are still available. Online Sundays 9 a.m. on the church website www.graceluverne.org, click Worship tab or go directly to our Facebook page at Grace Lutheran ELCA, Luverne. TV: Vast Channel 3 will air our worship service Mondays at 4:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. – NEW TIME! Radio: KQAD-AM Radio will air our worship service on Sundays at 8:15 p.m.
 
Bethany Lutheran Church
720 N. Kniss Ave., Luverne
Ph. 507-283-4571 or 605-215-9834
pastorapalmquist67@yahoo.com
Andrew Palmquist, Pastor
Sundays, 10:15 a.m. Worship service; worship online as well (at els.org). Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m. Zoom Bible study. See our Facebook page, Bethany Lutheran Church (Luverne) for other classes and events.
 
American Reformed Church
304 N. Fairview Dr., Luverne
Ph. 283-8600; email: office@arcluverne.org
Mike Altena, Pastor
Friday, July 2: 6:30 a.m. Community Men’s Bible study. Sunday, July 4: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. Services are also broadcast on Vast Channel 3 on Mondays at 6 p.m. and Wednesdays at 4 p.m. DVD’s available upon request. To stay up to date on announcements, follow us on Facebook and Instagram @arcluverne.
 
Rock River Community Church (formerly First Assembly of God)
1075 110th Ave., 2 miles west of Luverne on County Rd. 4
Ph. 612-800-1255; email info@rockrivercommunity.church
Bob Junak, Pastor; Annette Junak, Assistant Pastor
Sundays, 9 a.m. Sunday school; 10 a.m. Worship service. Children’s church for ages 3-6th grade and nursery for ages 0-3 provided during our services. Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Worship service. All services are in-person and all are welcome.
 
United Methodist Church
109 N. Freeman Ave., Luverne
Ph. 283-4529; email: luverneumc@iw.net
Thursday, July 1: 1-3 p.m. Rock County Food Shelf curbside. New location 208 W. Maple Street.
Saturday, July 3: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Sunday, July 4: 9:30 a.m. Adult Sunday school. 10:30 a.m. Worship service. 4:30 p.m. Genesis to Revelation Bible study. Monday, July 5: 8 p.m. AA meeting. Wednesday, July 7: 6:30 p.m. Rocky Railway FUEL Fun Night. 8 p.m. AA meeting. Thursday, July 8: 1-3 p.m. Rock County Food Shelf curbside. New location 208 W. Maple Street.
 
First Presbyterian Church
302 Central Lane, Luverne
Ph. 283-4787; email: Firstpc@iw.net— www.fpcluverne.com
Jason Cunningham, Pastor
Sunday, July 4: 9:30 a.m. Worship service. In-person Worship service and through Facebook Live Sunday. Our Facebook page can be found under First Presbyterian Church of Luverne. We are also on the local Luverne cable station at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and 10 a.m. on Thursdays. Wednesday, July 7: No committee meetings.
 
St. John Lutheran Church
803 N. Cedar St., Luverne
Ph. 283-2316; email: stjohn@iw.net
www.stjohnlutheranluverne.org
Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, Pastor
Saturday, July 3: 5:30 p.m. Worship. Sunday, July 4: 9 a.m. Worship service. 10:15 a.m. Sunday school and Adult Bible study. 7 p.m. Online Bible study. Worship service is 75 people. Services will be available on the Vast channel 3 Sunday and online at the city website, cityofluverne.org.
 
Living Rock Church
500 E. Main St., Luverne
Ph. 449-0057; www.livingrockswmn.org
Billy Skaggs, Pastor
 
New Life Celebration Church
101 W. Maple, Luverne
Ph. 449-6522; email: newlifecelebration@gmail.com
Food mission every third Thursday.
 
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
305 E. 2nd St., P.O. Box 36, Hardwick
Ph. (507) 669-2855; zionoffice@alliancecom.net
Jesse Baker, Pastor
 
Ben Clare United Methodist Church
26762 Ben Clare Ave., Valley Springs, S.D.
igtwlb@WOW.net
Bill Bates, Pastor
 
First Lutheran Church
300 Maple St., Valley Springs, S.D.
Ph. (605) 757-6662
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 4: 10 a.m. Joint worship with Holy Communion at First Lutheran Church. Masks are no longer required if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
Palisade Lutheran Church
211 121st St., Garretson, S.D.
Ph. (507) 597-6257 — firstpalisade@alliancecom.net
Mark Eliason, Pastor
Sunday, July 4: 10 a.m. Joint worship with Holy Communion at First Lutheran Church. Masks are no longer required if fully vaccinated. Worship will be streamed live on Facebook. Video worship via YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHdQwVxFcU4
 
First Presbyterian Church
201 S. 3rd St., P.O Box 73, Beaver Creek
Ph. 507-935-5025
email: lori.firstpres@gmail.com
Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Worship Service. Second Tuesday of each month, 7 p.m. Session meeting.
 
Magnolia United Methodist Church
501 E. Luverne St., Magnolia
Ph. 605-215-3429
email: magnoliamnumc@gmail.com
Nancy Manning, Pastor
Sunday, 9 a.m., in-person with livestream available on the church’s Facebook site.
 
Steen Reformed Church
112 W. Church Ave., Steen
Ph. 855-2336
Jeremy Wiersema, Pastor
Sunday, 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Worship service in-person with livestream available on Facebook and YouTube. Radio worship on KQAD Sundays at 9:30 a.m.
 
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
112 N. Main St., Hills
Ph. 962-3270
Nita Parker, Pastor
Sunday, July 4: 9 a.m. Worship at Tuff Home. 9:30 a.m. Youth time. 10 a.m. Worship service at Bethlehem with Holy Communion. Worship will be streamed live to Facebook at Bethlehem of Hills. You can find more info on our website blchills.org. Tuesday, July 6: 2 p.m. Tuff Home Bible study. 3:15 p.m. Tuff Village Bible study. Wednesday, July 7: 9 a.m. Quilting. 6 p.m. Deacon meeting.
 
Hills United Reformed Church
410 S. Central Ave., Hills
Office Ph. 962-3254
hillsurc@alliancecom.net
Alan Camarigg, Pastor

H-BC School Board 
meets May 24
Hills-Beaver Creek Dist. 671
Minutes
May 24, 2021
The Hills-Beaver Creek School Board met for its semi-monthly meeting at 7 
p.m. in the H-BC Secondary School Board room.
Board members present were Bosch, Gehrke, Harnack, Knobloch, Rauk and Rozeboom. Superintendent Holthaus, Principal Kellenberger 
and Business Manager Rozeboom were also in attendance.
Motion by Bosch, second by Knobloch, and carried to approve
the agenda. Proposed Addition to the agenda: 6.8 and 6.9
Visitor to the meeting was Mavis Fodness of the Star Herald via phone.
PATRIOT PRIDE:
-Successful Band and Choir Concerts 5/10 and 5/21
-Elementary Puppy Relays 5/21
-Elementary Entrepreneurship Fair 5/24
-Varsity Track Conference Meet 5/20--Boys Red Rock Conference Champions
BOARD COMMITTEE MEETING REPORTS:
-Community Education 5/19; Personnel/Finance 5/19;
-Chair Gehrke assign Committee replacements
Motion by Harnack, second by Bosch, and carried to approve Consent Agenda: 
-Minutes—05/10/2021
-Bills and Imprest
-Cooperative Purchasing Connection Master Food Service Agreement for
2022-2023 and 2023-2024
-Prairie Farms (Land O Lakes Milk) Milk Contract for 2021-2022
-Steve Wiertzema’s resignation as teacher/athletic director/coach effective 
the end of the 2020-2021 school year
-Nora Wysong’s resignation as teacher effective the end of the 2020-2021
school year
-Drew Carver’s resignation as paraprofessional effective the end of the
2020-2021 school year
-Ron Rauk’s resignation as bus driver effective the end of the 2020-2021 school
year
-Steve Olson’s resignation as 5-12 band instructor effective the end of the
2020-2021 school year.
-Hiring Danielle Kneip as Elementary Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year
-Hiring Lydia Hildebrandt as Elementary Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year
- Assigning Samantha McGaffee as Summer 2021 Extended School Year Special
Education Teacher
-Assigning Angie Hageman as Summer 2021 Extended School Year 
Speech/Language Teacher
-Setting miscellaneous kitchen equipment as excess district property and 
direct the business manager to sell or dispose
-Setting secondary advisory period coordinator position at $1200 for the year 
-Assigning Samantha McGaffee as office assistant for Summer of 2021
DISTRICT NON-ACTION ITEMS:
•Secondary Principal Report
•Superintendent/Elementary Principal Report
•Legislative Update
AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Senior Commencement 7 p.m., Friday, May 28
Regular Board Meeting, June 14
Regular Board Meeting, June 28
Meeting adjourned at 7:37 p. m.
Tamara Rauk, Clerk 
(06-24)

A longtime Luverne High School teacher and coach is experiencing a major lifestyle change.
After 25-years, Mike Wenninger is stepping down as head coach of the LHS baseball program.
Wenninger came to Luverne as a wide-eyed 22-year-old prior to the 1996-97 school year, and his quarter century run as the face of LHS baseball came to an end with a June 8 loss to Paynesville that wrapped up a successful 20-5 season.
Now, for the first time in a long time, Wenninger, 48, finds himself not playing or coaching baseball during the summer months.
“I’ve been involved in baseball as a player or a coach my whole life,” Wenninger stated.
“It all started with me playing catch with my grandfather and my uncles, and I remember watching one of my uncles with amateur teams in the New Ulm area when I was really young. My dad (Randy) was the coach of a couple of the youth teams I played with, which I think was a special time for both of us.”
Based on the way things have worked out, Randy Wenninger (and his wife, Monica) played important roles in creating their son’s love of the sport.
Randy was serving in the Air Force in Topeka, Kansas, when Monica gave birth to Mike, and they moved to Alexandria shortly after that before settling down in New Ulm, where Mike made his way through the town’s school system.
He became a three-sport standout (baseball, basketball and football) during his high school days as an Eagle, but baseball became his calling card.
After receiving limited varsity playing time as a sophomore, Wenninger became a full-time starter as a junior, when he played multiple positions.
As a senior, he emerged as an outstanding pitcher for a program that recorded consecutive third-place finishes at the Minnesota State Class AA Baseball Tournament in 1990 and 1991.
“The guys I grew up with in New Ulm really liked baseball and we were pretty good at it,” Wenninger recalled.
“We had some really good coaches, too. … I learned a lot from them.”
Between his junior and senior seasons, Wenninger gained seven to eight miles per hour on his fastball, which opened the door to a college career for the hard-throwing right-handed pitcher.
Wenninger spent one year at Dakota Wesleyan College (Mitchell, South Dakota) before transferring to South Dakota State University (Brookings) for the next three seasons.
He played college ball with LHS graduates Terry Van Engelenhoven, Mark Schoeneman and Micky Sehr at SDSU, and they helped influence Wenninger to take physical education position/head baseball coach positions that were available in Luverne in the summer of 1996.
Wenninger toured LHS with then Cardinal baseball coach Mark Lundgren and liked what he saw. When then high school principal Gary Fisher offered Mike the positions, he accepted the jobs without hesitating.
There’s little doubt that Wenninger was the perfect fit for both positions.
Being a physical education instructor kept him from being boxed into one classroom during the typical school day, which was something he fancied.
His track record as a baseball coach speaks for itself.
Wenninger’s 25-year reign includes just one season with a Cardinal team having a below .500 record.
His 2001 team won the Section 3A title and went on to place second at the Class A State Tournament.
LHS won another Section 3A title in 2003, and the Cardinals captured Section 3AA titles in the 2009 and 2013 seasons. The 2009 team finished as the consolation runner-up at the state tournament, while the 2013 team won the consolation title at state.
It was Wenninger’s devotion to the development of players that made his tenure a successful one. In some ways, his job was just beginning when the high school season was complete.
Wenninger coached Luverne’s VFW and Junior Legion teams every summer since 1997, and he worked with the seventh- and eighth-graders playing summer ball for the past 20 years. Those commitments did take up a lot of time, but he said it was time well spent.
“Having the opportunity to watch kids develop from the time when they were in seventh grade through their senior seasons was rewarding,” he said.
“In some cases, watching the progress they made truly was amazing. If you don’t invest a lot of time into coaching and developing players, you won’t get much back in return”
Now that his coaching career is complete, Wenninger has more free time to spend with his children, Skyler, Mckenzi and Cade (who just graduated from LHS).
Mike plans to travel to Cade’s baseball games at Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa, next spring instead of coaching LHS baseball.
“I’ll miss competing, which goes along with being a coach,” he said. “I won’t miss the long bus rides and the long hours it takes to be a coach.”
He said he’s grateful for the experiences and for the support of his family.
“It was a big part of my life and I made a lot of friends by playing and coaching baseball over the years. For that, I have to give thanks to my wife (Lauri Wenninger),” he said.
“She had to sacrifice a lot so I could coach and play a kids’ game for a long time. Our athletic family was blessed to have her by our sides through all of it. I’ve always believed that behind every good coach is a better wife, and that’s definitely true for me.”
John Rittenhouse, Star Herald sports writer for more than 30 years, came out of retirement to write this feature on the coach he’d worked with for 25 years.

The Luverne Cardinals had five relay teams and eight individuals compete in the Class A State Tournament on Friday, June 18, at St. Michael-Albertville High School.
The Hills-Beaver Creek track team had two relay teams and two individuals compete at the state meet.
For the girls, Luverne finished fifth overall with 34 points. Rockford placed first overall with 46 points.
The Luverne boys tied for 20th overall with Nova Classical Academy with 15 total points.
The H-BC boys tied for 58th overall with East Central, Sauk Centre, Pillager, Caledonia/Spring Grove and Proctor with four points apiece.
The team of Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta took home first place overall with 42 total points.
The highlight of the day was the Luverne girls’ 4-by-800 relay team of Regan Feit, Tiana Lais, Jenna DeBates and Tenley Nelson taking home first place with a time of 9 minutes, 34 seconds and 65 milliseconds.
It marked the third straight season that the Cardinals took home first place in the event.
Luverne’s Ashton Sandbulte placed third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.02. Sandbulte’s time set a program record in the event that was previously held by Jon Ehde, who had a time of 11.09 in 2013.
“It’s a good day for him,” Luverne track coach Pete Janiszeski said. “That’s something that he’s been working toward all season. It’s been one of his main goals to get the program record and to get to the state tournament. To set the program record at the state meet is pretty special for him.”
Luverne’s relay team of Feit, Lais, Nelson and Gracie Zewiske took home fifth place in the 4-by-400 event with a time of 4:07.26.
The Luverne boys’ 4-by-200 relay team of Arekel McLaughlin, Eli Radtke, LaShad Smith and Sandbulte placed fifth overall with a time of 1:31.87.
Luverne’s Jocelyn Hart placed fifth in the shot put with a throw of 38-06-75.
H-BC’s relay team of Dewell Rauk, Cole Baker, Gavin Wysong and Tyson Bork placed sixth overall with a time of 44.48.
Zewiske finished seventh in the 400-meter with a time of 58.73.
The Luverne 4-by-400 relay team of McLaughlin, Camden Janiszeski, Smith and Sandbulte placed eighth overall with a time of 3:34.97.
Feit finished 10th overall in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.51.
Luverne’s Camden Janiszeski finished 10th in the 1,600 with a time of 4:33.33.
Luverne’s relay team of Sarah Stegenga, Isabella Oye, Christina Wagner and Zewiske placed 10th overall with a time of 1:49.14.
Radtke placed 12th overall in the pole vault for the Cardinals with a mark of 12-00.o0.
H-BC’s Taryn Rauk placed 14th overall in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.25.
The H-BC 4-by-100 relay team of Abigail Harris, Ashlee Kelderman, Layla Deelstra and Rauk finished 12th overall with a time of 52.05.
 Bork placed 14th overall in the 200 with a time of 23.36 for the Patriots.
2021 Rock County track season recap
Rock County was well represented at the 2021 Class A State Track and Field Meet in Albertville on Friday, June 18.
A total of 10 individuals and seven relay teams from Rock County competed at the state meet at the St. Michael-Albertville High School.
 
Luverne
Luverne’s Ashton Sandbulte competed in the 100-meter dash and finished third overall in the event with a time of 11 seconds and 2 milliseconds.
Sandbulte’s time set a new program record in the event, breaking the previous record of 11.09 set by Jon Ehde in 2013.
Sandbulte finished the season with 10 first-place finishes in the 100.
Luverne’s Gracie Zewiske placed seventh at the state meet in the 400 with a time of 59.38. Zewiske finished the season with five first place finishes in the event.
Luverne’s Tenley Nelson placed fifth in the 3,200 at the state meet with a time of 11:08.71. Nelson ran the event four other times in the season and had two first place finishes.
Jenna DeBates finished sixth at the state meet in the 3,200 with a time of 11:11.78. DeBates finished the season with five first place finishes in the event.
Camden Janiszeski set a personal best at the state meet in the 1,600 with a time of 4:31.47. Janiszeski finished 10th overall in the event.
Janiszeski finished the season with seven first place finishes in the event.
Luverne’s Eli Radtke finished 12th in the pole vault at the state meet with a mark of 12-0. Radtke finished the season with 11 first place finishes in the event.
Regan Feit placed 10th in the 300-meter hurdles at the state meet with a time of 47.86. Feit finished the season with 10 first place finishes in the event.
Jocelyn Hart finished fifth in the shot put at the state meet with a throw of 38-06.75.
The 4-by-800 relay team of Feit, Lais, Nelson and DeBates placed first with a time of 9:34.65.
The 4-by-200 relay team of Sarah Stegenga, Isabella Oye, Christina Wagner and Zewiske placed 10th at the state meet with a time of 1:49.14.
The 4-by-400 relay team of Feit, Lais, Nelson and Zewiske placed fifth with a time of 4:07.26.
The 4-by-200 relay team of Arekel McLaughlin, Radtke, LaShad Smith and Sandbulte placed fifth at the state meet with a time of 1:31.87.
The 4-by-400 relay team of McLaughlin, Janiszeski, Smith and Sandbulte placed eighth with a time of 3:34.97.
 
Hills-Beaver Creek
The Patriots’ 4-by-100 relay team of Dewell Rauk, Cole Baker, Gavin Wysog and Tyson Bork placed sixth at the state meet with a time of 44.48.
The group of H-BC sprinters had six first place finishes in the relay event during the regular season and set the program record three times during the regular season.
The quartet first set the program record on April 29, in Luverne when they had a time of 44.66.
The team did it again at the Sub-Section meet on June 3 with a time of 44.59.
The group of sprinters set the program record again at the 3A Section Meet on June 10, when they finished with a time of 44.21.
Bork finished 14th at the state tournament in the 200 with a time of 23.36. Bork finished the season with four first place finishes in the event.
Taryn Rauk placed 14th in the 200 with a time of 27.67. Rauk ran the event three other times during the season and had two first place finishes.
The 4-by-100 relay team of Abigail Harris, Ashlee Kelderman, Layla Deelstra and Rauk placed 12th at the state meet with a time of 52.05.
That group finished the season with four first place finishes.

Tradition resumes this weekend as the Hardwick Community Club organizes activities for the Jubilee Days town celebration.
The Saturday night parade for the annual event the last weekend in June highlights a long list of activities that begin Saturday afternoon and culminate with a community church service Sunday morning
Longtime Hardwick residents Don and Nancy Patton are this year’s parade marshals.
Community club members accept suggestions for a Hardwick resident or couple who put Hardwick’s interests first to be honored at the Saturday night parade. The Pattons rose to the top of the list.
“They are just good people — nice community-minded people,” said Tammy Johnson.
While the Pattons’ history in Hardwick begins when they married in 1985, each had connections in the community of 180 residents long before they met.
Nancy, a graduate of Luverne High School, began working for the U.S. Postal Service in 1964 and later served as the Hardwick postmaster for 33 years.
She retired in 2002, and the couple still lives in the apartment above the post office on Main Street.
“We’ve liked this town,” she said. “It’s always been a good town to live in.”
As a youth Don frequently spent time in Hardwick visiting his grandparents from his hometown of Rock Rapids, Iowa.
His grandpa, Ben Lewis, was also the city policeman and city maintenance worker.
Don served on the Hardwick City Council for 10 years. During that time, he filled in for the maintenance worker for 18 months while the man recovered from an illness.
At times he is still asked questions about the town’s infrastructure.
Don, an Air Force veteran, was owner of “One Man Construction” when he met Nancy at the Rainbow Bar in Sioux Falls.
He estimated he retired about 2005 but still tinkers in his workshop — the former meat market across the street from their home.
The couple is known as the cat rescuers of Hardwick.
“If they (cats) come here, they know they will be fed,” Nancy said.
“And fixed,” added Don.
Whenever possible, the neutered cats (who are friendly) are placed with other families. Otherwise they have a home in Don’s former workshop located in the back of the couple’s home.
The Jubilee Days parade begins at 7 p.m. Saturday. No pre-registration is required. Participants are asked to line up on the west end of Main Street.
Events begin at 2 p.m. with the Cruise-In on Main Street along with the bean bag tournament and community barbecue meal. The cruise-in and tournament end at 4 p.m. but the community meal continues until 10 p.m.
At 5 p.m. the Music on Main event begins featuring Ron and Jane Cote of Luverne, and free inflatables are available for the kids.
After the parade, the pedal pull for children ages 4 to 11 begins along with the guys and gals bale toss.
Live music closes out the Saturday events with music provided by “Almost Iowa” from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Sunday’s outdoor community worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church parking lot.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. In case of rain, the service will take place inside the church.

Fifty years ago this year, Luverne’s radio stations first hit the airwaves.
KQAD signed on at 800 on the AM dial on March 1, 1971. Six months later, KQAD-FM, now KLQL-FM, took to the airwaves on Sept. 1, 1971, at 101.1.
“Both stations had KQAD call letters until the early ’80s when the FM station became KLQL, also known as K101,” said Joel Vis, the current general manager of both stations.
 
KQAD AM-FM then
According to the July 22, 1971, edition of the Star Herald, the new stations were owned by Siouxland Broadcasting Corporation.
Paul Hedberg, who also owned KBEW in Blue Earth, was the major stockholder, along with Luverne businessmen D.M. Lippi, Alan C. McIntosh, R.H. Swanson, Mort B. Skewes and Warren E. Schoon, who were also stockholders.
Harold Norman was the first general manager of the station. He was joined by six other employees at the start, including his son, Lee.
The studios and offices of the station on the hill one mile east of Luverne were built at that time to also include living quarters for the station manager and his family.
Also built at the same time were the twin radio towers still there today.
One tower broadcasts KQAD’s signal 150 miles in all directions.
The other tower blocks the signal to the northeast in order to avoid interference with WCCO’s powerful signal at 830, just 30 kilocycles above KQAD’s 800 signal.
“KQAD’s signal still points toward the south and west and doesn’t go as far to the northeast,” Vis said.
K101 FM’s signal, on the other hand, is 100,000 watts and reaches into four states.
The four-state coverage area was the inspiration for KQAD’s call letters.
The Feb. 11, 1971, issue of the Star Herald reported that “all the letter combinations which might allude to Luverne, like KLUV or KLVE, had been taken. The QAD was picked because the station will serve the quad-state areas of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska.”
In July 1971, the station hosted a grand opening with over 2,500 people in attendance.
In those early years, the radio station hosted major community events, such as a KQAD Winter Sports Show and a spring KQAD Farm Home and Sports Show, both at the armory
 
KQAD/K101 today
Today the stations employ nine people and continue to serve the tri-state area, with a special focus on Luverne and Rock County, along with Rock Rapids and Lyon County across the border in Iowa.
“Our signal points real nice in that direction so it’s really a natural for us,” Vis, who lives in Rock Rapids, said.
The stations are currently owned by Alpha Media, which is the fourth largest radio company in the country with 250 stations in 22 states.
“There are benefits to being part of such a large corporation,” Vis said.
“The assets they can give us are fantastic, but they trust us to make the right decisions for what works in Luverne. They are locally driven, which is great.”
Vis has worked at the stations since 2006, starting in sales and advancing to general manager when Steve Graphenteen retired.
“Steve and I actually switched jobs the last year, which made the transition much easier,” Vis said. “I learned a lot about how to manage a radio station from Steve.”
There have also been a number of on-air talent changes in recent years.
When longtime morning broadcasters Bruce Thalhuber and Ron Cote retired at about the same time in 2019, it was both a challenge and an opportunity for KQAD and K101.
“We lost some great guys then, and you can’t replace that kind of history and connections to the community easily,” Vis said.
“But we’ve also been really lucky to have the right guys fall into place at the right time.”
Those replacements include Rick Freitag and Jay Kelly, who are now hosting the K101 and KQAD morning shows respectively.
 Freitag joined K101 in 2019 and has a passion for music and radio, according to Vis.
“He started in radio, went to another career, and then chose to come back to radio because he just loves it, and listeners can tell that,” Vis said.
Kelly has done radio work in Worthington and Luverne for years but just recently joined KQAD full time.
“Jay’s got a great voice for radio and is just a natural,” Vis said. “He also does a lot of play-by-play for us; we’re lucky to have him.”
Freitag is also known for hosting K101’s popular “Country Wax Museum” show on Saturday mornings from 6 a.m. to noon.
“Rick creates that whole show and gets up to 40 listener request calls a week,” Vis said.
“He’s a record collector and just a music guy; it’s the perfect show for him.”
Sunday morning’s country gospel program, hosted by Jim Ouverson, is another K101 mainstay.
“Jim knows so many gospel groups and plays some local music from his own collections on the gospel show,” Vis said.
“Overall, these guys just have so much fun doing what they do, it’s refreshing.”
He points out that local radio is much more than playing music.
“We aren’t just about entertainment like big city radio,” he said. “We are an information resource.”
“Even though they aren’t our biggest revenue makers, our local news, sports, school calendars, and community calendars are some of the most important things we do,” Vis said.

Just in time for the Fourth of July holiday, Luverne area residents and visitors have new camping options at The Lake and at the former Boy Scouts campground east of the city park.
The “Luverne Campground” at The Lake received Minnesota Department of Health approval Monday, and “River Road Campground” was approved earlier this month.
Mike and Traci Davis are developing The Lake site and they’re partnering with Billy and Missy Cowell on the River Road location.
They said they hesitate to announce a grand opening, since both campgrounds are still being developed, but they are open and taking reservations.
“I want people to understand there is construction going on,” Davis said. “I don’t want them to leave with a bad taste in their mouths, because this isn’t how it will be when we’re done.”
While he’d like to wait until all details are finished, demand is increasing for local campsites, and several spots were filled over the weekend.
“They’re filling up fast for the Fourth of July,” Davis said. “The campgrounds are open, but there is still plenty to do.”
 
‘Luverne Campground’ at The Lake:
The Davises, who own property adjacent to The Lake, are developing nine campsites with cement RV pads (not pull-through) and full hookup — water, sewer, electric and wifi.
The sites are across the street from The Lake, north of Edgehill Street, along a private service road that would loop off from Edgehill.
They requested — and obtained — a conditional use permit from the city a year ago to proceed with their plans.
According to Planning and Zoning Director Chad McClure, a campground is an allowable use in that zoning area, which is R-I, residential-industrial, and affected neighbors were notified and did not object.
DGR engineering surveyed the camp areas, and they meet licensure requirements for DNR with regard to flood plain drainage and the Minnesota Department of Health for safety.
Each site is 2,000 square feet with room for an RV and a vehicle. Adequate designated off-street parking is available for additional vehicles.
Noise rules fall under the same city ordinance, such as quiet times between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and a 10-mph speed limit is imposed through the campground.
The Davises attended Monday night’s hearing to answer questions about their plans.
Mike said licensure also dictates night lighting, garbage management, rodent and pest control and other requirements, in addition to a 24-hour contact for the Sheriff’s Office in the event of an emergency.
“The Department of Health protects a lot of stuff, to make sure everything is clean and safe,” he said. “And this will be small.”
The Davises are also developing nine small cabins on the south side of the road out of the flood plain, and possible asphalt paving.
Davis said the coronavirus pandemic hit in the middle of campground development plans.
“With construction prices and all, it turned a $425,000 project into closer to $600,000,” he said about the Lake campground.
 
River Road Campground
The Davises and Cowells are working together on the River Road Campground.
It features 18 campsites for RVs on gravel with electricity and rural water hookup, with a dump station available at the campground entrance at the road.
“We’re excited to have it here and have people driving through Luverne to get here … People who have camped here have really like it,” Billy Cowell said. “We’re getting people to town and hopefully shopping here.”
The Rock County Board approved the 13-acre campground in Luverne Township last year as a permitted use in ag district.
As part of the conditions to operate a campground on the property, the county required a permit through the Minnesota Department of Health. Other conditions include quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
In addition to clearing trees and developing campsites, passersby noticed last week the addition of a house that was moved onto the premises.
It will not be available for campground reservations; rather, it will be rented out as residential housing. “It was a way for us to establish instant equity,” Davis said.
It was moved by Berghorst and Sons, Hull, Iowa, from an acreage east of Luverne along County Road 9 near Binford Farms onto a new foundation on River Road.
A spur from the planned Ashby trail will meander through the River Road Campground. “That will be a huge asset,” he said.
Overall, Davis said he views the campgrounds as another tool in the box that makes the community stronger.
“I want to stress to people who come to use these campsites that they should still check out the state park, they should see the museums, and stop at bars and restaurants,” he said.
“What the campgrounds mean to me is an opportunity for people to see what Luverne has to offer. We all feed off each other.”
To reserve a campsite at The Lake, call 507-920-6998. To reserve at River Road call 507-935-5384 or 507-920-6998.